How to Perform a Perfect Crunch (Video)

The abdominal crunch can be one piece of a well rounded abdominal and trunk exercise program. Perform a perfect crunch with help from a physical therapist in this free video clip.

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Hello, my name is Jamie Glick. I'm going to talk about how to perform the perfect abdominal crunch. The abdominal crunch can be one piece of a well rounded abdominal and trunk exercise program. Part of performing the perfect abdominal crunch lies in getting the proper alignment when you start. So this starts in your feet and it ends in the top of your head. When you are starting out your knees should be bent 90 degrees. Other options is to put one foot down flat. And this, either position will help maintain he proper alignment in your spine. In your back you don't want your low back to be arched. You don't want it to be flattened out to the mat or the floor. This will put undue stress in your vertebrae as you go into your crunch. Your head should be pointed up with your eyes looking at the ceiling. Your fingertips should be behind your ears gently behind your ears on your skull. Do not clasp your hands together. This will end up in a strained neck. Before you begin you can also tense your abdominal muscles called abdominal bracing. Just to prepare them, get them ready for activity. And then when you come up you want to bring your shoulder blades and your head up together like that. And then come back down. Never hold your breath. You can complete 10 repetitions, take a break and then try another 10. And that is your perfect abdominal crunch.